Mexican citizen gets prison time in large marijuana bust

4/24/2018
BLADE STAFF

A Mexican citizen who had nearly 72 pounds of marijuana in his car when he was stopped on the Ohio Turnpike near Maumee was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison.

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Myron Duhart also suspended the driver's license of Abraham Valdovinos-Lopez, 33, of Guadalajara, Mexico, for two years.

Valdovinos-Lopez, who pleaded guilty to trafficking in marijuana, was stopped by state troopers for a traffic violation Jan. 24 when the marijuana was discovered. He did not have a valid driver's license at the time.

His attorney, Stephen Johnston, told the court his client regrets being involved in the situation and knows he likely will be deported when he gets out of prison.